Flight Details
The accident flight involved a private pilot receiving instrument flight training from an instructor pilot. The flight was cleared for an ILS approach to Runway 23 at Tri Cities Regional Airport, Blountville, Tennessee. After being instructed to contact the tower, the pilot acknowledged a clearance for a full stop or touch and go landing and was informed that winds were calm. No further communication was received from the flight.
Witness Account
An airline employee who was working a departing flight observed the accident. He reported seeing a beige-colored airplane on approach that appeared unstable, turning left and right while climbing and descending. The airplane touched down hard on the runway, bounced about 15 to 20 feet high near the 5,000-foot runway marker, then began yawing left. The nose pitched up to approximately 60 degrees with wings level and very slow airspeed. The airplane appeared left of the runway, stalled, dropped its left wing, and pitched nose-down. It disappeared from view into a gully on the southeast side of the runway.
Wreckage Examination
Examination at the crash site revealed the airplane collided with the ground in a nose-down attitude. The right wing was pushed aft and exhibited accordion crushing extending from the wing root outboard to the tip. The left wing was pushed forward. The left main landing gear down lock pawl was not engaged. The left main landing gear door linkage was damaged upward and inward. The outboard edge of the left main landing gear tire was worn down to the tire core.
Runway Evidence
Investigation of the runway showed tire marks beginning 2,796 feet from the approach end of the runway, continuing in a curving arc to the left for 453 feet.
Mechanical Examination
Examination of the airframe, flight controls, engine assembly, and accessories revealed no anomalies.